I wonder how many of the reported incidents are intentional vs. how many people just carelessly pointing laser pointers around. Or does it take something more than a laser pointer to travel that far? Don't get me wrong, I know people do it intentionally and they are total assholes, but there could be a light pollution aspect to it as well.

nekom:I wonder how many of the reported incidents are intentional vs. how many people just carelessly pointing laser pointers around. Or does it take something more than a laser pointer to travel that far? Don't get me wrong, I know people do it intentionally and they are total assholes, but there could be a light pollution aspect to it as well.

I guess I'd be careless, or at least semi-careless. I love the effects that happen when laser and light beams reflect off of particles in smoke and fog.

nekom:I wonder how many of the reported incidents are intentional vs. how many people just carelessly pointing laser pointers around. Or does it take something more than a laser pointer to travel that far? Don't get me wrong, I know people do it intentionally and they are total assholes, but there could be a light pollution aspect to it as well.

I would think an accidental illumination would be over so fast that a pilot would wonder if it really happened or was just his imagination. Something that lasted long enough to be worth reporting or was repeated several times per minute would almost have to be intentional.

How many people are running around outdoors with a laser pointer pointing it at things anyway, if not for nefarious purposes?

Calmamity:Why isn't the reaction to this "Oh look, some asshole is pointing a laser at us. What a dick.What's for dinner?"

Lasers can temporarily blind pilots; which IS kind of a big deal on an airliner. Most of the time, idiots point lasers at helicopters; especially police helicopters. It can create a very unsafe situation.

Clutch2013:nekom: I wonder how many of the reported incidents are intentional vs. how many people just carelessly pointing laser pointers around. Or does it take something more than a laser pointer to travel that far? Don't get me wrong, I know people do it intentionally and they are total assholes, but there could be a light pollution aspect to it as well.

I guess I'd be careless, or at least semi-careless. I love the effects that happen when laser and light beams reflect off of particles in smoke and fog.

And now for a clarification.

I'm not one of those assholes that intentionally seeks out planes or people to shine lasers at. In fact, I actively try to avoid that. It's always in the back of my mind, though, whether or not my seemingly innocuous beam aimed at what I think is the middle of nowhere is actually hitting something.

wxboy:nekom: I wonder how many of the reported incidents are intentional vs. how many people just carelessly pointing laser pointers around. Or does it take something more than a laser pointer to travel that far? Don't get me wrong, I know people do it intentionally and they are total assholes, but there could be a light pollution aspect to it as well.

I would think an accidental illumination would be over so fast that a pilot would wonder if it really happened or was just his imagination. Something that lasted long enough to be worth reporting or was repeated several times per minute would almost have to be intentional.

How many people are running around outdoors with a laser pointer pointing it at things anyway, if not for nefarious purposes?

I once had a large not-very-bright dog and if I it got too late to walk him with good light (rural area) I'd get out the old laser pointer and he'd chase it all around the fields until he was worn out. So people do take them outside for legitimate reasons, I never aimed it above 3 feet or so, though.

wxboy:nekom: I wonder how many of the reported incidents are intentional vs. how many people just carelessly pointing laser pointers around. Or does it take something more than a laser pointer to travel that far? Don't get me wrong, I know people do it intentionally and they are total assholes, but there could be a light pollution aspect to it as well.

I would think an accidental illumination would be over so fast that a pilot would wonder if it really happened or was just his imagination. Something that lasted long enough to be worth reporting or was repeated several times per minute would almost have to be intentional.

How many people are running around outdoors with a laser pointer pointing it at things anyway, if not for nefarious purposes?

I've met a few amateur astronomers who use laser pointers to point out areas in the sky when talking to people. They don't intentionally aim at overhead planes, but if one happened to be on the path, they would "hit" it.

No, officer, I wasn't pointing the laser into the cockpit of the plane. I was traveling past the airport with my cat in the car and I stopped and was trying to see if I could get Sith Lord to jump off the top of the car as I pointed it into the night.

5$ says that "ridiculous 1000% increase" in laser flashes came only because the government made a big deal about a couple events and now a ton of kids who never thought about it before saw the news and decided to aim lasers at jets too.

How are the lasers getting in the cockpit windows? If you point a laser toward an aircraft it should hot the bottom. If you get a shot that does angle right it would hit the ceiling of a cockpit. The video shows the person on the runway. I would think security would be better in that instance.

syberpud:wxboy: nekom: I wonder how many of the reported incidents are intentional vs. how many people just carelessly pointing laser pointers around. Or does it take something more than a laser pointer to travel that far? Don't get me wrong, I know people do it intentionally and they are total assholes, but there could be a light pollution aspect to it as well.

I would think an accidental illumination would be over so fast that a pilot would wonder if it really happened or was just his imagination. Something that lasted long enough to be worth reporting or was repeated several times per minute would almost have to be intentional.

How many people are running around outdoors with a laser pointer pointing it at things anyway, if not for nefarious purposes?

I've met a few amateur astronomers who use laser pointers to point out areas in the sky when talking to people. They don't intentionally aim at overhead planes, but if one happened to be on the path, they would "hit" it.

Yeah, I guess. My feeling, though, is that, even if you're pointing a laser into the sky for astronomy purposes, your chances of finding an airplane by accident are pretty low. And if this is such a big issue that the FBI is putting out rewards on it (and that's apparently effective), the number of accidental cases is probably pretty low.

I have a $30 green laser pointer and at night if you aim it into the sky it looks like a brilliant green lightsaber piercing the heavens as far as you can see. I can certainly see why some uneducated, bored dumbass might think it was fun to shine it at helicopters and airplanes.

nekom:I wonder how many of the reported incidents are intentional vs. how many people just carelessly pointing laser pointers around. Or does it take something more than a laser pointer to travel that far? Don't get me wrong, I know people do it intentionally and they are total assholes, but there could be a light pollution aspect to it as well.

The bigger pointers can travel quite far, but it's also because of the color, I think red is the shortest, then green, then blue.

Also, we're not talking about the 2 dollar keychain laser pointers that Toys R Us sells here. You really should understand that your life experiences don't equal the experiences of others that neatly, dude.

Calmamity:Why isn't the reaction to this "Oh look, some asshole is pointing a laser at us. What a dick.What's for dinner?"

Because, while it is unlikely to actually cause in accident, it is extremely distracting and blinding and poses a stupid, unnecessary risk. As a pilot I have never been lased myself but know others that have. You can search on youtube for videos of this happening and why it is so distracting. When the laser (already pretty wide at that distance) flashes across the windscreen (it doesn't have to be held there obviously) it makes the plexiglass light up just like when your dirty scratched car windshield faces into the setting sun. If you're flying at night your night vision is extremely important to maintain, and that flash can really mess you up for a minute or so.

Solty Dog:How are the lasers getting in the cockpit windows? If you point a laser toward an aircraft it should hot the bottom. If you get a shot that does angle right it would hit the ceiling of a cockpit. The video shows the person on the runway. I would think security would be better in that instance.

Would polarized glass somehow help?

Because you're thinking of a laser as a thin, straight beam like when you shine it on the wall in your house. It does expand with distance, and when it hits glass it will bend. Not only that, when it hits the tiny imperfections in a plexiglass windscreen it lights up the whole thing like one big flash. Google it for picture, or youtube for demonstrations. All you need to do is flash across the windscreen for a nanosecond and the pilot, with eyes adjusted to the absolute darkness, will see it like someone took a flash photograph in his face.

And no, you don't want polarization when flying because it can block the sun's glint off another plane, which is one way to detect them. Also, I don't believe it would affect lasers.

So here's the first article to pop up when you actually search Google instead of sitting there acting like you did anything: http://www.bustle.com/articles/28822-guys-airplanes-laser-pointers-do n t-mix-so-can-we-stop-this-please

It explains why it is dangerous. Oh, here's another one that shows you what it actually looks like for the pilot: http://www.pangolin.com/faa/laser-aircraft-animation-and-explanation. h tm

Also, we're not talking about the 2 dollar keychain laser pointers that Toys R Us sells here. You really should understand that your life experiences don't equal the experiences of others that neatly, dude.

Three responses and not a one citing an accident of any kind. You know, like I asked for.

So this is SO DAMN DANGEROUS you can't do anythingore than link to "zomg catastrophe" articles. Really?

Is it bad? Absolutely - but this whole wave of crap is nothing more than regurgitated "you could put an eye out!" hysteria.

None. The problem here is that all it takes is one and then the outrage will come about how come the government didn't do anything and why on earth are we once again "regulating by gravestone". I think the threat is hypothetical when it come to commercial planes but for helicopters and light aircraft I see how it could easily be dangerous.

Have you even seen the result of a green laser pointer hitting a plane windshield? Look up flash blindness, or start with http://www.pangolin.com/faa/laser-aircraft-animation-and-explanation. h tm. It's not fun, and can crash planes.

I notice you use the term 'can crash planes'. Is that like Cigarettes can cause cancer, or homeopathy can be beneficial?

None. The problem here is that all it takes is one and then the outrage will come about how come the government didn't do anything and why on earth are we once again "regulating by gravestone". I think the threat is hypothetical when it come to commercial planes but for helicopters and light aircraft I see how it could easily be dangerous.

We had it happen to one of our helis a few years back. Blinded the pilot for about six minutes while approaching a scene.

dukeblue219:If you don't mind flying in the back of a jetliner while this is happening to the pilots, then you're braver or stupider than I.

Your pic demonstrates some seriously lax airport security, not to mention someone who took an awful lot of risks and effort to pull a drunken gag. From that spot they could do a lot more than use a laser pointer.

So here's the first article to pop up when you actually search Google instead of sitting there acting like you did anything: http://www.bustle.com/articles/28822-guys-airplanes-laser-pointers-do n t-mix-so-can-we-stop-this-please

It explains why it is dangerous. Oh, here's another one that shows you what it actually looks like for the pilot: http://www.pangolin.com/faa/laser-aircraft-animation-and-explanation. h tm

Also, we're not talking about the 2 dollar keychain laser pointers that Toys R Us sells here. You really should understand that your life experiences don't equal the experiences of others that neatly, dude.

Three responses and not a one citing an accident of any kind. You know, like I asked for.

So this is SO DAMN DANGEROUS you can't do anythingore than link to "zomg catastrophe" articles. Really?

Is it bad? Absolutely - but this whole wave of crap is nothing more than regurgitated "you could put an eye out!" hysteria.

yeah. because we shouldn't prevent people from doing it until people die.